The Dangers of Fundamentalist Extremism
in Christianity

It is unfortunate that the word that simply means a certain set of beliefs
has also come to mean an attitude about belief that demonizes all those who
disagree. Fundamentalist beliefs are not a threat to anyone. The attitude of
demonizing those who believe differently than you do is a threat to everyone.

I use "fundamentalism" and "fundamentalist" here for a
variety of radical extremism that gives cultural assumptions the color of religious
authority and aggressively seeks to impose them on a world perceived as threatening
them, and which demonizes all those who disagree. The reason I use these words
for that attitude is the same reason that sociologists and many other people
use them: because people who display that attitude originally adopted the label
"fundamentalist" for themselves, until, by their own behavior, they
had brought the word into disrespute.

Because I use the word "fundamentalism" in this fashion, I have been
accused by some of being an enemy of a particular religious doctrine, and of
myself "demonizing" those who hold that doctrine. There are some who
will continue to insist on that no matter what I say, because portraying themselves
as "persecuted" justifies what they do to persecute others. For all
others, I have included these introductory paragraphs to clarify that I very
adamantly support freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, and freedom of association.
These freedoms were appropriately placed at the head of the Bill of Rights,
because they are the basis of all other freedom, and without them, we can exercise
no other rights.

I am a liberal Christian, and as such, I have many disagreements on doctrine
with my more conservative brethren and sistren. This is, in my liberal view,
as it should be. It is in open dialogue between different opinions that the
truth is tested. I do not have to agree with another person's opinion in order
to passionately defend his/her right to believe it, live by it, and speak for
it.

It is in defence of the equal rights to freedom of conscience, freedom of speech,
and freedom of association, that I oppose the radical anti-liberalism that has
misappropriated many labels to itself, including "fundamentalism,"
"Christianity," "conservatism," and "democracy."
On these pages, I will continue to call it what it first called itself, because
that is what most of the world knows it by: fundamentalism. There is nothing
in any of the world's religions – all of which consider compassion to
be a central value – that justifies any attack, abuse, or harm upon any
human being in the name of religion. Any and all of the world's religions can
be, and have been, used by those who wish to justify and make righteous their
abuse of other human beings. That behavior is not rooted in any ideology, nor
can it be changed by any change in ideology. The source of it is in human individuals;
the responsibility for it is on human individuals; and the cure for it is in
recognizing our common humanity and the human rights that transcend all group
boundaries.

This section began with my response to fundamentalist arguments regarding homosexuals.
That was before September 11, 2001. I have become increasingly aware of the
dangers in the rise of fundamentalism worldwide. ALL forms of fundamentalism
— Christian, Islamic, or Other — are a danger to every human society
and offensive to the true spirit of their claimed religions. Fundamentalism
is an active backlash against all forms of social progress by those who perceive
themselves as losing power in such progress. It is essential that those who
support progressive movements — including, but not limited to, feminism,
anti-racism, and the rights of sexual minorities — be aware of and actively
counter the backlash of Fundamentalism.

If you are a Fundamentalist, you will find the above statements offensive.
If you read what I have written, and write to me reflecting an understanding
of what I have written, I will dialogue with you. All other debate will be religiously
ignored.